Big disconnect between beliefs and actions when it comes to texting while driving

When it comes to texting while driving in this country, the numbers don’t add up.

A poll conducted by the Canadian Automobile Association found that 90 per cent of Canadians believe texting while driving is “socially unacceptable.”

However, the same poll found that 22 per cent of Canadians admitted to either reading or sending a text while driving. Note the words, “admitted to.” There’s no telling how many more did not admit to multi-tasking while behind the wheel.

The CAA’s conclusion: While the vast majority of Canadians say texting while driving is unacceptable, but they’re still doing it in significant numbers anyway.

“We still need to close that gap between belief and behaviour,” says Jeff Walker, CAA vice president of public affairs. “But we are on the right track.”

Texting while driving is illegal in all provinces, yet the polled respondents reported seeing an average of six people texting while driving within the last month.

“The next step is to make texting and driving as socially unacceptable as drinking and driving,” Walker says.

The poll surveyed 1,252 Canadians, leaving a margin of error of +/-2.8 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

The same poll asked Canadians to rank road safety concerns. In order, the top-10 are: